Canons 1–18

Canon 1. We have judged it right that the canons of the holy fathers made at every synod up to the present time should remain in force. [a]

Canon 2. If any bishop ordains for money, and puts up for sale a grace that cannot be sold, and for money ordains a bishop, or a country bishop, or presbyters, or deacons, or any other of those counted among the clergy; or if, out of greed for gain, he appoints for money a steward, or an advocate, or a prosmonarius, or anyone at all who is on the roll of the church: let the one convicted of this lose his own rank. And let the one who was ordained gain nothing from the ordination or promotion he bought; let him be removed from the dignity or charge he obtained for money. And if anyone is found acting as go-between in such shameful and unlawful dealings, let him too be deposed from his rank if he is a clergyman; and if he is a layman or a monk, let him be anathematized. [b]

Canon 3. It has come to the knowledge of the holy synod that certain of those enrolled among the clergy have, out of greed for gain, become renters of other men’s estates and make contracts in worldly affairs. They think lightly of the service of God, and slip into the houses of people of the world, whose property they undertake, out of covetousness, to manage. So the great and holy synod decrees that from now on no bishop, clergyman, or monk shall rent estates, or engage in business, or busy himself with worldly occupations. The exceptions are when he is called by the law to the guardianship of minors, a duty there is no escaping; or when the bishop of the city entrusts him with the care of church business, or of orphans or widows who have no one to provide for them, and of persons who stand especially in need of the church’s help, for the fear of God. And if anyone breaks these decrees from now on, he shall be subject to the church’s penalties. [e]

Canon 4. Let those who truly and sincerely live the monastic life be counted worthy of fitting honor. But certain people use the monastic life as a pretext and bring confusion both on the churches and on public affairs, going about the cities wherever they please and at the same time trying to set up monasteries for themselves. So it is decreed that no one anywhere shall build or found a monastery or a house of prayer against the will of the bishop of the city. The monks in every city and district shall be subject to the bishop, embrace a quiet life, and give themselves only to fasting and prayer, staying for good in the places where they were set apart. They shall not meddle in the affairs of the church or of the world, or leave their own monasteries to take part in them, unless at some time, out of urgent need, the bishop of the city appoints them to do so. And no slave shall be received into any monastery to become a monk against the will of his master. If anyone breaks this ruling of ours, we have decreed that he shall be excommunicated, so that the name of God may not be blasphemed. But the bishop of the city must make the needed provision for the monasteries. [g]

Canon 5. Concerning bishops or clergymen who go about from city to city, it is decreed that the canons enacted by the holy fathers shall keep their force. [j]

Canon 6. No presbyter or deacon, or anyone else in the church’s orders, is to be ordained at large. No one is to be ordained unless he is specifically appointed to a church in a city or a village, or to a martyry, or to a monastery. And if any have been ordained without a charge, the holy synod decrees, to the shame of the one who ordained them, that such an ordination shall have no effect, and that such men shall not be allowed to serve anywhere. [k]

Canon 7. We have decreed that those who have once been enrolled among the clergy, or have become monks, shall accept neither a military post nor any worldly office. If they presume to do so, and do not repent so as to turn back to what they first chose for the love of God, they shall be anathematized. [l]

Canon 8. Let the clergy of the poorhouses, monasteries, and martyries remain under the authority of the bishops in each city, according to the tradition of the holy fathers. Let no one arrogantly throw off the rule of his own bishop. And if any break this canon in any way whatever and will not be subject to their own bishop, let them be subjected to the penalties of the canons if they are clergy; and if they are monks or laymen, let them be excommunicated. [m]

Canon 9. If a clergyman has a case against another clergyman, he must not pass over his own bishop and run to the secular courts. Let him first lay the matter before his own bishop, or let it be submitted to anyone whom both parties choose with the bishop’s consent. And if anyone acts against these decrees, let him be subjected to the penalties of the canons. And if a clergyman has a complaint against his own bishop or any other bishop, let it be decided by the synod of the province. And if a bishop or a clergyman has a dispute with the metropolitan of the province, let him go to the exarch of the diocese, or to the throne of the imperial city of Constantinople, and let it be tried there. [o]

Canon 10. A clergyman may not be enrolled at the same time in the churches of two cities: in the church where he was first ordained, and in another to which he has moved because it is greater, out of a craving for empty honor. Those who do so shall be sent back to their own church, where they were first ordained, and shall minister there only. But if anyone has already been moved from one church to another, he shall have nothing to do with the affairs of his former church, or with the martyries, almshouses, and hostels that belong to it. And if, after the decree of this great and ecumenical synod, anyone dares to do any of the things now forbidden, the synod decrees that he shall lose his rank. [q]

Canon 11. We have decreed that the poor and those in need of help shall travel, after examination, with church letters of peace only, and not with letters of commendation, since letters of commendation ought to be given only to persons who are open to suspicion. [s]

Canon 12. It has come to our knowledge that certain persons, against the laws of the church, have gone to the secular powers and by means of imperial rescripts have divided one province into two, so that as a result there are two metropolitans in one province. So the holy synod has decreed that from now on no bishop shall attempt any such thing, since anyone who undertakes it shall lose his rank. But the cities that have already been honored by imperial letters with the name of metropolis, and the bishops in charge of them, shall have the bare title only, and all the rights of a metropolitan shall be kept for the true metropolis. [u]

Canon 13. Clergymen who are strangers and unknown, and have no letters of commendation from their own bishop, are absolutely forbidden to minister in another city. [v]

Canon 14. Since in certain provinces the readers and singers are allowed to marry, the holy synod has decreed that none of them may take a wife who is not of the orthodox faith. But those who have already had children by such a marriage, if they have already had their children baptized among the heretics, must bring them into the communion of the catholic church. If they have not had them baptized, they may not from now on have them baptized among heretics, or give them in marriage to a heretic, or a Jew, or a pagan, unless the person who marries the orthodox child promises to come over to the orthodox faith. And if anyone breaks this decree of the holy synod, let him be subjected to the penalties of the canons. [w]

Canon 15. A woman shall not receive the laying on of hands as a deaconess under forty years of age, and then only after careful examination. And if, after she has received the laying on of hands and has continued in her ministry for a time, she despises the grace of God and gives herself in marriage, let her be anathematized, together with the man united to her. [y]

Canon 16. It is not lawful for a virgin who has dedicated herself to the Lord God, or for monks, to marry. If they are found to have done this, let them be excommunicated. But we decree that in every place the bishop shall have the power to show them leniency. [n27]

Canon 17. In every province, outlying or rural parishes shall remain subject to the bishops who now have jurisdiction over them, especially if the bishops have governed them peaceably and without interruption for thirty years. But if within thirty years there has been, or is, any dispute about them, those who consider themselves wronged may bring their case before the synod of the province. And if anyone is wronged by his metropolitan, let the matter be decided by the exarch of the diocese or by the throne of Constantinople, as was said before. And if any city has been newly founded by imperial authority, or shall be in the future, let the arrangement of the church’s parishes follow the civil and municipal pattern. [n29]

Canon 18. The crime of conspiracy, or banding together, is strictly forbidden even by the secular law, and much more ought it to be forbidden in the church of God. So if any, whether clergymen or monks, are found conspiring or banding together, or hatching plots against their bishops or their fellow clergy, they shall without fail be deposed from their own rank.